This air fryer flounder recipe is a favorite for both busy weeknights and relaxing weekend dinners. It features tender flounder fillets with fresh lemon and bright spices, plus butter and salty capers for a truly decadent dish. Flounder cooked in the air fryer with no breading is quick and easy to prep, and is ready to serve in under 10 minutes.
If you aren't very familiar with flounder yet, prepare to become a fan! Tender, buttery flounder fillets are delicate yet slightly fatty (they're rich in lean protein and healthy omega-3 fats), and are wonderful to cook in the air fryer!
Place fillets directly on fresh lemon slices, season with vibrant yet simple spices, and top with butter and capers. The flounder is air fried to light and crisp perfection with no breading in just 7 minutes! So although this dish tastes deliciously decadent and impressive, it is surprisingly quick and easy to prepare.
Cleanup is also a breeze, which is always a bonus... Because this basically effortless air fryer flounder recipe is made without breading there are no multiple prep dishes needed.
If your fish is frozen you will need to thaw it first. Don't worry it doesn't take long since flounder fillets are very thin. Leave the fish on the counter for an hour and it will be completely thawed. For even faster thawing process you can submerge fish in a bowl of cold water.
Rinse fillets with cold running water and pat dry with paper towels. Now cover them in the mix of spices. I used black pepper, paprika, oregano and garlic powder. Also add salt if you are not planning to add capers, otherwise it will be too salty.
Slice lemon and place in the air fryer, add seasoned fillets right on top. Add a little piece of unsalted butter on top of each fillet along with capers, if using. Butter will keep flounders juicy, even if slightly overcooked.
Cook as recommended in the recipe card below and enjoy with your favorite side dish.
Flounder fillets. Fresh is preferable but frozen, or previously frozen, also work well. Rinse the fillets clean and pat dry before cooking.
Garlic powder. For a bit of lovely garlic flavor to elevate the dish.
Salt. To balance out the mild natural sweetness of the flounder.
Paprika. Adds a delightfully smoky, deep flavor to the fillets.
Oregano. For some herbaceous goodness to round out the other seasonings.
Capers. These briny wonders are simply delicious to pair with saltwater flounder.
Lemon. Sliced thin to line the bottom of the air fryer basket. The lemon brightens the air fryer flounder with tangy fresh citrus.
Butter. Makes the fillets taste that much more delectable!
Oil spray. Just a bit makes the air fryer flounder crispy with no breading necessary.
Flounder is a saltwater white fish and is therefore not very "fishy." Rather, it has a slightly sweet and fairly mild taste.
The texture is comparable to tilapia, but flounder is a bit fattier (with good omega-3 fats - yay!) and more rich in flavor.
Air fryer flounder fillets are moist and flaky, with a light bit of caramelization. The addition of lemon, butter, and capers elevates the dish with deliciously vibrant, tangy and salty flavors!
Fresh flounder is easiest to find at coastal fish markets. However, frozen fillets are often available at popular grocery stores.
Using a quality high-heat spray oil is key to keep fish from sticking in the air fryer basket. The slices of lemon also help to make sure the fillets do not stick and stay moist.
Additionally, a piece of parchment paper can be laid at the bottom of the basket to prevent sticking. But note that you still want to use spray oil to get the flounder lightly crisp without breading.
Enjoy air fryer flounder by itself or with a side dish. I like to have it with a simple garden salad that contains cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, spinach and whatever other fresh vegetable you like.
For a more filling dish make some white rice or potatoes or sweet potato mash. Roasted or grilled vegetables will be amazing too ! Steamed broccoli or asparagus is a great choice for a light low carb dinner.
If you have any flounder leftovers, you can store them in the air tight glass or plastic container for up to 4 days. Don't keep fish in the fridge for too long though, the quicker you eat it the better. Reheat in the air fryer or in the microwave.
- Do not overcrowded the air fryer basket.
- If unsure that the fish is cooked all the way, check its internal temperature. It should be at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit in the thickest part.
- Again, do not use salt if adding capers. Capers are very salty and fillets will be too salty if added BOTH capers and salt.
- To prevent fish from sticking lay the air fryer basket with sliced lemon. Additionally it will infuse fish with some lemon flavor. Or you can use air fryer liners.
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Hope you will like this air fryer flounder recipe as much as we do. Please rate the recipe if you made it and leave a comment below if you have any questions or suggestions. Or just want to talk!